October 30, 2025
Despite opposition from State Representative LaHa, Senator Curran, and others, the Illinois Legislature voted early this morning to approve House Bill 250, which authorizes quick-take authority along the 143rd Street corridor. The Village will provide an update soon on the geographical limits of this quick-take authority.
September 2, 2025
At today’s Will County Division of Transportation meeting, officials discussed changing the 143rd Street widening project. A narrow 4-3 vote moved forward a resolution to take land for the project, but only for a smaller section. Under this new plan, 143rd Street would still be widened to 5 lanes from Bell Road to Parker Road, but there would be no widening past Parker Road. The County Board will make the final decision on September 18.
Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike and Township Supervisor Sue Steilen spoke in opposition to the proposal, stating that they do not support the widening project in any form. Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike indicated the funding for this project could be used elsewhere in the county where another widening project is needed and have no impact on the residents and rural character of Homer Glen.
July 17, 2025
At the Will County Board meeting held on July 17, 2025, there was agenda item under the Public Works & Transportation Committee, 25-208 Adopting the Will County FY2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program, which if approved gets forwarded to the Illinois Department of Transportation. During public comment Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike and Homer Township Supervisor Sue Steilen spoke out against the current widening plans for 143rd which is included in the Transportation Improvement Program.
After discussion, a motion to amend the Transportation Improvement Program, removing 143rd from the plan was brought forward and was approved by a 13-9 vote.
After further discussion, it was the state’s attorney’s opinion that the County Board is not required to approve this document. As a result, a motion to remove adoption of the Transportation Improvement Program from the agenda was brought forward and this was approved 18-4.
May 30, 2025
The County is actively working to advance HB 250. The Village continues to rely on resident support to oppose this bill. Please contact the following Senators TODAY to express your opposition.
- Patrick Joyce - (217) 782-7419; (708) 756-0882
- Laura Ellman - (217) 782-8192; (630) 601-9961
- Michael Hastings - (217) 782-9595; (815) 464-5431
May 29, 2025
Due to the public opposition of House Bill 250—formerly known as House Bill 1397—which includes the quick-take provision for 143rd Street, the bill is currently on hold in the Judiciary Committee of the Illinois Senate for an indeterminate amount of time. The Village, County, and Township have been tasked with meeting and exhausting all options to resolve this before the State will make a determination.
May 23, 2025
House Bill 250—formerly known as House Bill 1397—which includes the quick-take provision for 143rd Street, passed in the House this past week. It now moves to the Senate Assignment Committee for consideration.
If you oppose this bill, please contact the committee and share your concerns.
Members of the Assignment Committee include:
- Kimberly A. Lightford - (217) 782-8505; (708) 632-4500
- Bill Cunningham - (217) 782-5145; (773) 445-8128
- Omar Aquino - (217) 782-5652; (773) 292-0202
- Laura M. Murphy - (217) 782-3875; (847) 718-1110
- Neil Anderson - (217) 782-5957; (309) 230-7584
- Sally J. Turner - (217) 782-6216; (217) 651-8291
May 21, 2025
House Bill 250, which includes the resolution from House Bill 1397, is being heard again today in the House Executive Committee.
To oppose the Quick-Take of 143rd Street, please take action now by filling out a witness slip and selecting "Opponent" for both Amendment HFA1 and Amendment HFA2.
Fill out a Witness Slip HERE
Contact Representative Nicole La Ha at laha@ilhousegop.org.
April 3, 2025
Today, the court held a status hearing on the veto of resolution 24-27, which the Will County board had passed 12-9 to stop the 143rd Street expansion. County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant initially supported the resolution but later vetoed it. In response, some board members filed a lawsuit, which has been pending for nearly a year. The case was dismissed today, citing the lack of a formal resolution authorizing the board to sue, and the failure to submit an amended complaint. The Village is investigating additional options.
March 24, 2025
On March 21st 2025, House Bill 1397, which concerns QUICK-TAKE of 143rd street, was re-referred to the Rules Committee, pursuant to House Rule 19(a) for failing to meet the established legislative committee deadline of March 21st. As of today, March 24th the Rules Committee has not taken any further action on the bill, although it could potentially do so in the future.
March 14, 2025
Important Information Regarding 143rd Street!
House Bill 1397, which concerns Quick-Take of 143rd Street by Will County, was pushed to March 19. To oppose this bill, fill out a witness slip - link below!
January 30, 2025 - Today, January 30th, there was a hearing at Will County Circuit Court regarding the lawsuit brought against the Will County Executive by members of the Will County Board as it relates to Resolution 24-27 and 143rd Street. The case was not dismissed. The next hearing is set for April 3rd. Plaintiffs have 30 days to file an amended complaint if they so choose
December 13, 2024 - On December 11, there was a hearing at Will County Circuit Court regarding the lawsuit brought against the Will County Supervisor by members of the Will County Board as it relates to Resolution 24-27 and 143rd Street. The judge's decision was that a special State's Attorney would be assigned to the county commissioners for this case. Another status hearing has been scheduled for January 29.
October 15, 2024 - The Village of Homer Glen hosted an informational workshop regarding the process of using eminent domain with a focus on how it relates to a portion of 143rd Street through Homer Glen. To view the full video, click the link below.
Proposed 143rd Street Improvements - Lemont Road (State Street) to Bell Road - a continuous four lane roadway section with a mountable median, curb and gutter, and storm sewers to be constructed to match the adjacent sections of 143rd Street at Lemont Road (westernmost limits, completed in 2014) and at Bell Road.
- 143rd Street Project Meeting Handout (PDF) from March 7, 2018
- 143rd Street Project Aerials Combined (PDF)
- 143rd Street Project Noise Wall Sections (PDF)
- 143rd Street Project Typical Sections (PDF)
- 143rd Street Project Comment Form (PDF)143rd Street Project Presentation Video (PDF)
The Will County Division of Transportation owns and maintains both 143rd Street and Bell Road through the Village of Homer Glen. Because both roadways are under the jurisdiction of the county, the Village of Homer Glen does not have any rights to or responsibility for the current and proposed expansions of 143rd and Bell Road. We are monitoring both projects and the updates for 143rd Street are as follows:
The proposed five lane expansion of 143rd Street between Lemont Road and Bell Road in the Village of Homer Glen is a project that has been planned for many years. Studies on this road were first done in 1991, with preliminary engineering beginning in 2009. The final segment of the project has been ongoing for the past 12 years. The county has already invested 6.2 million dollars in the traffic study, research, development, and engineering of the plan and have $7 million in grant funding allocated to the widening project.
143rd Street, designated as a minor arterial by the Illinois Department of Transportation, has experienced an increase in traffic over the years, according to the county—from a count of 5,637 in 1990 to the latest IDOT count of 15,500 with projections of 22,000 for 2040.
The project is now pending due to a lawsuit filed by members of the Will County Board. Plaintiffs in this lawsuit are ten Will County Board members, acting in their full capacity as Board members, as stated in the lawsuit. This is the only lawsuit on file.
This lawsuit alleges that County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant wrongly vetoed Resolution 24-27 which would have directed the Will County Division of Transportation to cease the current planned expansion. The resolution also directed the Will County Division of Transportation to instead develop plans for a three lane expansion of 143rd with the third lane being a turning lane. The decision of curbs or open ditches were not discussed at this time. The Village attorneys have consulted with the attorneys for the plaintiffs (the county board) and are monitoring the case.
The Village of Homer Glen is actively evaluating and planning its next steps as the case progresses. The Village Board unanimously believes that this expansion is unnecessary and has contested the county’s traffic count and justification for the expansion. The Village remains hopeful for a discussion on alternative options to the expansion once the current litigation is resolved.
Additionally, the Village is watching what happens with Senate Bill 3408 which would provide for a quick take of certain property along 143rd by Will County. Letters of opposition from the Village have been sent to our local senators and representatives along with those senators involved with the bill.